News updates

Al Akhbar published a report last week about the state of agriculture sector in Lebanon and the key challenges it is facing as a result of high cost of production, monopoly of traders and unfavorable international trade agreements.  The report also referred to food security which, according to the former Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Hajj Hasan, is of an utmost importance, and which he defined as the right of every individual to healthy food, in adequate quantities, and according to his/her material means. Furthermore, the former Minister noted that food security in Lebanon is non-existent and that the biggest challenge to both agriculture and food security results from the fact that out of 1.1 million hectares of exploitable land in Lebanon, only 360,000 hectares are actually prone to easy planting, while the total area actually planted do not exceed 280000 hectares of which, only 32% is irrigated.

The report highlighted the small size of agricultural land parcels, which is also a key problem, according to agricultural expert Basam Hamdar, who is also the chair of economics at the American University of Science and Technology.  According to the expert, agricultural land is divided into 195,000 parcels, of which more than 50% have an area of less than 5 dunums (1 dunum = 1000 m²), whilst only 13% of 20 dunums and above.  The small size of land parcels hinders mechanization thus lowering agricultural productivity which does not exceed 25% of that of the European Union and 50% of that of other Arab countries for the same crops.

Hamdar added that the agriculture sector in Lebanon has been subjected to political marginalisation since independence and contribute today, to no more than 5% of the GNP and accounts for 6% of the total labour force. Of those involved in agriculture, 70% are engaged in other economic activities since income from agriculture is insufficient to meet basic livelihood needs.  To be noted that 60% of the farmers produce for the market and the rest for their own consumption.  Other then the high cost of production, partly resulting from the present monopoly control of traders over imports of fertilizers, pesticides, etc, marketing also poses a serious problem for food security. As a result of all the preceding factors, middlemen are reaping most of the benefits while small farmer receives a very small proportion of no more than 20%.

Hamdar also stressed the important role that the state can play through the creation of a special bank for agricultural credit open for investors from both the private and public sectors, and in order to meet the financial needs of farmers particularly for long term loans with small interest rates. Furthermore, he suggested providing farmers with various incentives such as subsidizing the cost of utilities, tax waivers for the first five years of start up agricultural projects.  He also pointed out to earlier attempts by the Ministry to provide support to agriculture through collaboration with Central Bank and the Bankers Association but with limited success and the only outcome of these efforts was in securing subsidised loans through Kafalat.

Minister Haj Hassan noted for his part that the responsibility for the present abysmal situation of the agricultural sector falls on governmental economic policies for the past twenty to thirty years that were largely unfavorable to the agricultural sector. He particularly pointed out to the wrong decision of opening the local market to foreign products in implementation of unfair trade agreements such as the Arab common market agreements.  He added that the burden to reinvigorate the sector cannot only fall on the Ministry, thus calling for concerted efforts amongst all concerned Ministries and for complimentarity with the neighboring countries.

On the other hand, the president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, noted that the situation of the Lebanese agriculture is not expected to improve unless some serious measures are taken such as: the setting up the of a national bank for agricultural development, regularly reviewing the calendar of agricultural imports, protection of national production and the setting up of a national institution for insurance against climate hazards.  He further recommended the separation of the Chamber of Agriculture from that of Commerce and Industry, and the creation of the agricultural cadastre. He added that all political parties had signed up to these recommendations which came out of the social and economic forum organised by the European Union in Lebanon back in February 2009.  Finally, Howayek reminded that earlier governments repeatedly refused to set up an agricultural bank under pressure from financial and trade oligarchies. Thereafter, the proposal was reduced to a mere collaboration protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture and Fransabank first, and then between the Ministry and the Bankers Association in which the Ministry serves as a mere broker between the farmers asking for loans and the lending banks.
Source: Al-Akhbar 15 February 2014

The welfare and development centre of the Social Welfare Institutions – Dar Al Aytam Al Islamiya organized yesterday at Souk el Khazen in Hasbaya, an event to celebrate the graduation of 25 participants in the association’s beautician training and which extended over a two month period.  This vocational training session took place in the areas of Hassbaya and Marjeyoun and under the supervision of trainer Raghida Daher.

The president of the centre, Lina Abou Karnib, noted in her speech at the reception that empowerment intervention carried out by the Welfare Institutions are not limited solely to women but extend over all genders and social strata and include men, children and other needy categories.

Trainee Mayssa Saab spoke on behalf of her class and acknowledged the hard work carried out by the Welfare Association in order to spread public good, advance local communities and support women.  She added that the Association work in social care and hence its intervention with women to help them build better lives for their families and local communities.
Source: Al-Mustqbal 21 February 2014

Seven years after initiating the first steps towards enacting a law that regulates the partnership between the private and the public sector, the higher council for privatization issued yesterday a guidebook entitled “public-private partnerships”.  The guidebook seek to familiarize users with the key steps towards endorsing the partnership law and providing the necessary groundwork to support the rehabilitation of the infrastructure necessary for securing successful projects as well as employment opportunities.
The guidebook which is available on the Council’s website, on this link, was distributed to the members of the Executive and of the House, to other relevant authorities in the private and public sector, to embassies and international organizations.  The general secretary of the higher council for privatizations, Ziad Hayek, noted that the release of the procurement procedures for commissioning partnership contracts is essential step towards joint collaboration between the two sectors for financing and executing new public infrastructure work such as a modern communication grid, electrical networks, sanitary systems, safe roads and others.  He insisted that the implementation of joint projects is also the best way to create a high number of jobs of high caliber thus curbing the migration of young Lebanese talents.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar 20 February 2014
 

Within the framework of the French agricultural aid program, Daman 2, and which aims at improving the quality of agricultural production and the wellbeing of farmers in the South particularly after the July 2006 war, French Ambassador, Patrice Paoli signed yesterday, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Agriculture, partnership agreements with representatives of six agricultural cooperatives located in Southern villages, namely Hula, Sreefa, Borj Kalaway, Froon, Kooneen, and Rshaff.
The initial phases of this 500K Euros project were implemented in 2008 and 2010 in collaboration with the UNIFIL French contingent and with the financial support of the French development agency, the Lebanese ADR, as well as Agriate, the French consulting firm in agriculture and rural development, in addition to the support of the Social Development Fund affiliated with the French Embassy.  The initial phases included the setting up of agricultural cooperatives aiming at improving the quality of local olive oil production through the setting up of modern olive press, and thereafter jumpstarting the economy of the targeted villages.
This new phase now being implemented includes the provision of  technical support and agricultural extension to improve management and governance, the training of farmers on advanced new techniques for  upgrading production and performance through the provision of the required equipments. This phase also seeks to support the sustainability of the cooperatives and best practices in administration and finance within the targeted cooperatives.
Source: Al-Nahar 20 February 2014

The follow-up committee of the organizations representing the olive oil sector met upon the invitation of the president of the association of olive farmers in Kura, George Constantine Inati, and announced its new action plan, and addressed an open letter to the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the House and the Prime Minister as well as the members of the Cabinet entrusted with drafting the Ministerial Statement.  The committee reiterated its past demand, aiming at the development of agricultural communities of Lebanon. It called for the protection of national production, the banning of imports of olive oil, combating economic terrorism which takes the form of spoiling the quality of local olive oil production, stopping the ravaging of olive trees orchards through construction and protecting historical olive trees.  The committee is also demanding that the Ministries of Economy and Trade, and Agriculture put in place effective measures to combat pests and diseases attacking olive trees, introduce a tax on cement extraction from planted land, subsidize olive orchards with cash and finally, introduce a national plan to plant one hundred million olive trees to combat global warming, climate change and desertification.
Source: Al-Nahar 20 February 2014

An official ceremony was held yesterday to mark the handover of the Ministry of Industry from outgoing Minister Sabounjian to incoming Minister Hajj Hassan.  The latter stated that the industry in Lebanon is a promising sector and needs to be nurtured and protected by the state, adding that there is no state in the world that does not protect its agriculture and industry.  He pointed out to the fact that many politicians travel abroad in an effort to encourage import to Lebanon (rather then to promote exports) at a time when Lebanon’s yearly imports have risen to USD 14 billion whereas its imports are a mere USD 2 billion.
Hajj Hassan also spoke about the need to protect national production and wondered why no decision was ever taken to double exports for example and decrease imports by USD 2 billion as this will help create new factories and employment opportunities which will subsequently decrease unemployment.  He also noted that the argument of high production costs is invalid stating that most countries of the world suffer from high production costs,  taxes and high energy prices but nevertheless resort to protecting production through different means namely curbing imports, imposing strict conditions as well as negotiating quotas.
In conclusion, Hajj Hassan added that during the three month lifespan of the new cabinet, he will focus on putting together a new approach to support and develop the production sectors of the economy after meeting with the various stakeholders, (IDAL, the chamber of commerce, industry and agriculture, regional chambers, trade unions, etc..) and so as to identify and address priorities.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 20 February 2014

The President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists Neemat Efram, launched during a meeting of industrialists which was held in Dbayyeh yesterday, four new model industrial cities and which are environmentally friendly and will secure 20,000 new employment opportunities.  These new sites include a readymade and state of the art infrastructure including a modern water and communication system according to a contemporary urban planning scheme which includes a harmonious industrial and agricultural environment.  Efram called for a partnership with the public sector based on the decree enacted in 2005 and which allows the setting up of a higher council for industrial cities.  He added that industrialists had to look for alternatives whilst focusing on mobilizing the private sector. He reiterated the importance of strengthening the services offered to industrialists as well as providing them with sustainability incentives and support so that they remain competitive. As such, Efram took upon himself the responsibility of sponsoring the project of creating an industrial city in Jezzine whilst Khalil Zantout in Nabatieh area, Wissam Ashour in Zahrani and Michel Daher in Terbol in bekaa.  
Source: Al-Nahar 18 February 2014

As Safir newspaper published today a report on the increase in the number of Syrian women agricultural laborers in the areas of Khiam in South Lebanon, an area which has now become  fully planted and utilized  with seasonal and permanent plants.  Indeed, after the liberation from Israeli occupation in 2000, the area including Sardeh, Omra and Wazzani became increasingly exploited for seasonal and tree planting and now hosts vast fruit and grapevines orchard in addition to potato and cauliflower fields after being set up with irrigation systems.
The report noted that the percentage of women labor in this area has increased with the influx of Syrians who have populated tents in Khyam and Marjeyoun.  Syrian women have found work as agricultural labor and are being recruited in teams thus securing some income and shelter.  These women have contributed their agricultural expertise especially those who come from similar agricultural areas in Syria.
Source: Al-Safir 18 February 2014

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the project entitled “environmental recycling of solid waste in Teffahta” and which is implemented within the framework of the programme of the Ministry of Social Affairs entitled “strengthening the participation of women in local governance and development”.  The project is implemented, in collaboration with the local municipality and Ard Lubnan association, under the supervision of MOSA development services centre in Bissariyyeh/Zahrani area, and is funded by the Italian Cooperation office at the Italian Embassy.
The report noted that the project was initiated following the completion of a local opinion poll undertaken by MOSA and which showed that women in Teffahta would like to be trained in sorting solid waste and recycling organic and solid waste so that they can address the problem of unregulated rubbish dump which infest their village and cause both air and environmental pollution.  According to one of the activists in the project, Zainab Younes, when the project first kicked off, responsiveness was generally mild and that several field visits were required to convince women to sort their wastes whilst pointing out to the financial benefits of the project.  Indeed, the project has allowed women to engage with peddlers in nearby villages and who specialize in recycled goods namely glass, plastic, cardboard and metal.  Younes also noted that a number of workshops were organized for women in Teffahta to train them on how to sort and recycle household waste and produce products and artifacts that can be re-used.
Finally to be noted that the women of Teffahta have participated with their products in the a recent exhibition of successful and creative local projects, which was held last week at the UNESCO palace in parallel with the national conference on the management of solid waste and which was organized by the Lebanese Environmental Movement.
Source: Al-Akhbar 17 February 2014

Within the framework of the project entitled “developing penal justice in Lebanon”, implemented by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC, with funding from the European Union, Minister of Justice Chafiq Kortbawi, launched this month the start of operation of the new sewing workshop at Roomieh prison.  Preparations are underway to set up two similar workshops in the Tripoli and Baabda prisons for women with a view to have them ready for operation shortly.
The new workshop aims at producing basic goods for prisoners and providing them with work opportunities and income.  In addition to the contribution of all the stakeholders listed above, the American Embassy in Beirut donated the sewing machines whilst the UNODC took the responsibility of rehabilitating the workshop facilities and provided logistical support, raw material and training for inmates in addition to the overall supervision of work. To be noted that production will be distributed within the health kit given to each inmate upon his registration in the project.
To be reminded, that Minister Kortbawi kicked off the project back in September 2013 with the creation of an administrative committee to run the workshop.  The Committee is entrusted with overall decision making as well as overseeing all matters to ensure proper implementation of the project including payment of workers.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 17 February 2014